Eleanor Ruth (Gilroy) (Sutherland) Fillmore born May 15th, 1943 in Salem to Catherine (Dow) and Martin Gilroy, passed away December 16th, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Eleanor attended Truro Teachers College and Mount Saint Vincent University for her Early Childhood Development Education. Of all the jobs she had, teaching pre-school and kindergarten were her most favourite. With her love of children, she was known by many as a second Mom.
She took up painting acrylic on canvas and has paintings all over Canada. She was proud to win two first prize ribbons for her paintings at the Cumberland County Exhibition. Eleanor also took the time to do special painted eggs for friends and family. She was awarded a Volunteer of the Year award for raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society and the IWK Children’s Hospital.
Marrying Eugene Fillmore in 2014 was one of the most rewarding things she ever did. Not only did she gain a great soul-mate, she gained a family she could claim as her own. Daughter Cheryl and husband Ian Mackintosh of Salem, son Tom Fillmore of Mansfield, granddaughter Melissa Lund of Moncton, grandson Jeff Mackintosh ( Beth Mackenzie) of Fall River. Eleanor enjoyed a very special bond with great-granddaughter Aurora Lund.
With her husband, Eugene she travelled to Scotland and across Canada to British Columbia to go up the Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer train.
Eleanor is predeceased by her parents, her first husband Donald E Sutherland, her sisters Anne, Jean, Doris and Ethel, brothers: Raymond, Ralph and Gordon. She leaves behind sisters Mary, Betty and special sister Marjorie and her family whom she was very close to, also brothers John, Lloyd (Pat) and Lester and many nieces and nephews and close friends.
Eleanor wishes to thank her family and friends who visited in the hospital. A huge thank you to to the wonderful doctors and nurses of the CRHCC and ASH for their exceptional care. Always inquisitive, she got to know every doctor, nurse, housekeeping and dietary staff and their story.
Donations may be made in her memory to the Leicester Cemetery and the Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter where she got her beloved cat, Suzie.
Cremation has taken place and next spring on May 17th, 2025 when the earth wakes up and the sun shines, we will honour her memory with a funeral at the W. Allen Funeral home in Oxford.
Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the online memorial at www.allenfuneralhome.ca or through the W.Allen Funeral Home Facebook page. The W.Allen Funeral Home can be reached at 902-447-2167